There is no place safe from allergies in America, and some cities are more problematic than others. The Allergy Capitals is an annual research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to identify “the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies” during the spring and fall seasons. The data measured and compared each season includes:

Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed
pollen and mold spores)*

Number of allergy medications used per patient

Number of allergy specialists per patient

Fall Allergy Season is Here

More than 45 million Americans are living with seasonal allergic rhinitis – commonly called nasal allergies – and the fall can be the most difficult time of year for people trying to avoid and manage their allergy symptoms. This year, Louisville, KY, is named the top Fall Allergy Capital as a result of high pollen counts, high use of allergy medications by patients and too few allergists in the area to treat the growing allergic population. The top 5 cities are:

Louisville, KY

Wichita, KS

Oklahoma, OK

Dayton, OH

McAllen, TX

Click here to view a complete list of the 100 most challenging cities to live in with allergies this fall.

"Every fall so many seasonal allergy sufferers are affected by a variety of symptoms such as frequent and repeated sneezing, runny nose, congestion, water eyes, coughing and even asthma symptoms in more severe cases, all due to seasonal allergens," according to Dr. Bassett. "The key is to be proactive and have an allergy action plan to reduce, prevent and manage symptoms more effectively. This includes allergy testing to identify specific allergic triggers, allowing for better control and more cost effective care. AAFA’s annual list of cities really helps to remind people to speak with their doctors so they can point them in the right direction for better allergy control and a better quality of life during the season."
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